pinched 1 of 2

pinched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of pinch
1
as in nipped
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the zipper on those jeans always pinches me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pinched
Verb
On the final play of the first quarter of Saturday’s preseason opener, backup quarterback Kyle Allen scrambled left and got pinched off near the sideline. Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Nerves are effectively long cables running from the spinal cord out to the skin and muscles, and like any cable, they can be pinched. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Many teachers and residents across the county are feeling pinched by Johnson County’s rising costs of living. Taylor O'Connor 15, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026 But the chairman also acknowledged how consumers are feeling pinched by years of high inflation. Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026 This decline has pinched profit margins in the 401(k) world, said Kai Richter, an attorney with Cohen Milstein who has long specialized in ERISA class-action cases. Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 8 July 2026 My thumb and index finger pinched together to grab a dime, while my middle finger reached farther to pick up coins that had rolled under the edge of a cabinet. Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Paintings of Rush made in his lifetime depicted a man with flat hair and long, pinched features. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 With many families increasingly financially pinched, some are turning to credit cards and other forms of debt to cover daily expenses, which could also contribute to their pessimism about the economy, Hanks said. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinched
Adjective
  • Sunday’s 202km stage from Monaco to Manosque was expected to finish in a reduced bunch sprint, but was hilly enough for a breakaway to be given encouragement.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The district’s memo said its goals aren’t around less technology, but are centered on using these tools in the most effective ways with clear goals and reduced distractions.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • As her pregnancy progressed, Kabita’s belly swelled while the rest of her remained gaunt.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On the first day of the hearing, July 22, Salah Sarsour's brother, Mohammad Sarsour, testified that his brother appeared gaunt and dirty and complained of pain and inadequate medical care during his detention in an Israeli jail.
    CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cristopher Sanchez worked six effective innings to become the majors’ first 16-game winner as the Philadelphia Phillies nipped the visiting Miami Marlins 6-5 on Monday.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Stars attempted to deal Robertson to the Kraken, but Robertson nipped that in the bud.
    Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • But Jacob Young worked the count, drew a walk, stole second and scored on Daylen Lile’s single to tie the game 2-2.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Thursday night, though, a different kind of football stole the spotlight at Sanford Stadium.
    Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Police said one of the suspects arrested two days ago was expected to appear in court on Monday, while the other three would appear on a later date.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • In 2021, a teen was arrested after wounding two students and injuring two others in a shooting at a high school in Newport News, Virginia.
    Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The bold reforms, which Tinubu’s government argues saved the economy and handed the government more money, were cheered by investors but resulted in soaring inflation.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • She was saved and the search for Carbullido then got underway.
    Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Topline Google agreed to pay $10 million for an enormous trove of business data from bankrupt Spirit Airlines—raising questions about what happens to privacy after a company goes belly up and AI swoops in.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Most bankrupt airlines are purchased whole, including their data, by another airline which folds it into those operations.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Xbox, despite its increasingly haggard reputation, has announced backwards compatibility for PC.
    Mitch Wallace, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Rocking back and forth nervously during a television appearance, a haggard-looking Diaz-Canel acknowledged the same talks, which his government had denied were taking place just days before.
    Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinched. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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